Mission Research

LPL scientists have played important roles on spacecraft instrument and mission teams since our founding in 1960.

The 2018 NSF Higher Education Research and Development survey ranks the UA, led by LPL, #1 among all universities in space science research and development.

Current Involvement in Missions

Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment CUTE

CUTE

Colorado Ultraviolet Transit Experiment

Europa Clipper

ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

Hera is a small spacecraft for deep space possessing comparable autonomy to a self-driving car.

Hera

HiRISE (MRO)

HiRISE, High Resolution Science Experiment (MRO)

Hubble

Hubble Space Telescope

IMAP

Interstellar Mapping and Acceleration Probe

Jupiter's moon, IO

IVO

Io Volcano Observer

Juno

Juno: Unlocking Jupiter's Mysteries

KPLO

Korea Pathfinder Lunar Orbiter

LRO

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter

Mars 2020

MAVEN

Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution

Mars Odyssey

MRO

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

MSL

Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)

MMX

Martian Moons eXploration

NEO Surveyor

NEOSM

Near-Earth Object Surveillance Mission

NEOWISE

Near-Earth Object Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer

OSIRIS-REx

Origins, Spectral Interpretation, Resource Identification, Security, Regolith Explorer

Parker Solar Probe

Parker Solar Probe: A NASA Mission to Touch the Sun

Psyche mission spacecraft and solar panels

Psyche

Solar Orbiter’s first close approach to the Sun

Solar Orbiter

SPARCS: Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat

SPARCS

Star-Planet Activity Research CubeSat